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Post by onlyMark on May 18, 2021 15:29:55 GMT
once you have ETIAS clearance for the Schengen zone, you can go anywhere else in the zone since there are no borders and no border checks (except now with the covid crap). It's the same for anybody with a Schengen visa. Yes, this is what I am aware of and it seems somewhat complex what the French regulations are trying to enforce - or not depending on if they bother. I think the thing about being able to refuse entry to some is quite valid and I suspect that all this will just be something in the pocket of the immigration officials when they are faced with some obnoxious and confrontational tourist or others they wish to keep out, but in the normal course of events, never referred to. |
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Post by onlyMark on May 18, 2021 15:32:27 GMT
Please, Teacher, What is Schengen? "The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area
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Post by bixaorellana on May 18, 2021 16:07:15 GMT
I just went through the very poorly designed website. My suspicion is that many of us arriving as tourists would just waltz in to France with no problem, exactly as before. But yes, the site is confusing as hell. For one thing, there should be a section called "Do I need a visa" right at the very beginning. Because I'm so clever, I jumped to "Coming to France for ...", which seems an overly arch way to put "Do I need a visa". Then I couldn't find my passport country because it is "American" on the menu, not "United States".
This is what I got after filling out everything as best I could. I chose Mexico as place of submission of application, but only because I don't quite understand what that means.
I can't imagine that all that data would be entered into a computer so that the tourist could be tracked. Are they going to pounce on the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc to see if I'm in fact stretched out by the pool there?
Reminder of your application
Nationality : American Age : 72 Place of submission of application : Mexico Type of visa requested : Short-stay (≤ 90 days) Destination : France Travel document : Ordinary passport Issued by : United States of America
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You do not need a visa.
Nevertheless, you must be able to show some documents when you are controlled at the border.
For more information, please click here.
Clicking on the last line takes you back to the strict list of documents -- documents which would appropriately be required for someone applying to live in the country, rather than a casual tourist.
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Post by bjd on May 18, 2021 18:25:16 GMT
It sounds just like the old visa waiver system except that now people will have to pay for the ETIAS once every three years, like the similar fee for the US. Last time I went to Canada I also had to buy something like that for $7. It has probably expired by now.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 20, 2021 10:17:05 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on May 20, 2021 13:49:25 GMT
Even though the headline spotlights UK travel to France & Spain, the French website indicates that the proof of accommodation would apply to any foreign visitors. It does seem logical that accommodation information would be requested for tracking purposes, but it also seems impossible that such tracking could be implemented, especially since the accommodation would only be a jumping off point. In any case, entrance to the EU has now been eased for the UK, among other countries: Ambassadors from the 27 EU countries approved a European Commission proposal from May 3 to loosen the criteria to determine "safe" countries and to let in fully vaccinated tourists from elsewhere, EU sources said.
They are expected to set a new list this week or early next week. Based on data from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Britain and a number of other countries would meet the new criteria. www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-countries-agree-ease-travel-restictions-non-eu-visitors-2021-05-19/That takes us right back to how to prove full vaccination & why a "vaccination passport" would streamline the process of entering a foreign country. Of course I shudder to think how long it might take to acquire such a thing, especially if one is a citizen of one country, but resident in -- or even only traveling from -- another. |
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Post by patricklondon on May 20, 2021 14:37:18 GMT
There's a difference between what's needed to cope with Covid, and what happens as a result of Brexit. AFAIK, UK immigration, even where it doesn't require visas, can and sometimes does probe into exactly where someone's going to be staying and whether they've enough money, so as to check they don't intend to try to work illegally, and so on. I don't know if the UK is looking to some e-visa system for tourist visitors, but the French requirements may be no more, albeit more bureaucratic, than we already do. My blog | My photos | My video clips | My Librivox recordings"too literate to be spam" |
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Post by kerouac2 on May 20, 2021 14:47:14 GMT
The attestation d'hébergement (accommodation certificate) in France has always been ultra common due to the huge numbers of Algerians, Tunisians, Moroccans and West Africans visiting family living in France and who would never go to a hotel or other rental. Now it is also used by many Chinese and Indians/Pakistanis/Bangladeshis with family in France. Since all of these are countries that require visas for France, it is already part of the visa application. Of course the idea of using it for "exempt-from-visa" visitors would be a new twist, but not shocking. But in any case, I don't think that many of the people reading this are planning to stay with family or friends, so that brings us to the hotel reservation bit.
Everybody knows that this is ridiculous for lots of people, but if we go back to the countries requiring visas, it is totally normal. I thought it was interesting one time when I was flying from Tahiti to Paris via Los Angeles that when I wrote in the space "address in the United States" the words "in transit," it was not acceptable. "But I have an U.S. passport," I told the immigration official. "I can sleep in the street if I want." This was not acceptable. So he just said "I'm going to write 'Hilton' on that line, and that will be fine." So that just goes to show how unenforceable rules are handled by the workers on the ground.
Except the nasty ones of course, so always be as nice and friendly as possible with such people.
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Post by onlyMark on May 20, 2021 15:21:59 GMT
This requirement regarding accommodation is a minor point as I'm used to going into countries where it is asked on one form or another. Also the necessity in many to register with the police, as in Bosnia. Usually the hotel will do it, same as in India and other countries.
I had landed in Namibia, you had to fill out a card on arrival. Usually handed out on the plane in. I was self-driving and camping and only knew my first night, so I put that and had no problems ever. This time there was a middle aged couple just in front of me who wee flying in for a tour and didn't know where they were staying in Windhoek for some reason.
The Immigration official wouldn't accept not knowing and not filling the form out. It went on for a little time.
I leant forward and asked them which company they were with. They told me and I said that company stays at (inserted most expensive hotel in the city) so write that on the form. The official gave a little smile to me because she wanted to let them in but couldn't without an address.
Everyone happy all round.
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Post by questa on Jul 13, 2021 2:14:05 GMT
You haven't lived if you haven't been through immigration at Bali's beautiful new terminal. They are still employing the rogues at the desks, a great ox of a man who takes my passport and looks over the long lines behind me with a bored air. He notes that I have been here many times. I smile like an idiot and say
"yes, Bali is so pretty" He riffles the pages.
"So you have a sweety for me?"
"Oh sorry. I have no sweeties. I ate them on the plane".
"Not that sweety, sweety to come to Bali many times."
"Yes, many times, very pretty."
"Do you have friends in Bali?"
" My friends are coming from Australia later"
I turn around so I am looking down the lines and say
"Oooh...Look at all the tourists. You are very busy." The movement attracts the supervisor who ambles over to see why the holdup. The ox rapidly stamps my passport and returns it to me. As I exit I see supervisor talking sternly to the ox.
Maybe I should carry some candy next time.
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